Pipe cleaning machine



' Feb. 28, 1933. E. H. ADAMS PIPE CLEANING mcnmn Filed March 26. 19:51

, 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 28, 1933. E. H. ADAMS rm: cnmnme pmcam Filedlarch 2a 1931 mill \\ ML Ml 3 Sheets-Sheet mum N law/WA mgcams 3Shoots-Sheet 3 Filed March 26; 1931' Patented Feb. 28, 1933 p emus'rA'rE-s 11. mars, or we anew, cannonm rm manmencms hpplleation ma maas, ml. mm 80. 525,514.

Thisinvention relates to pipe machines, and has for an ob ect thePIOYISIPD of a 1pc cleaning machine which is readily porta 1e and ofrelatively small size and weight and therefore, better for relativelysmall jobs of pipe cleaning,

A more detailed object is the provision ofa pipecleaning machine havinganannfllar.

rotor head adapted to encircle the pipe te m be cleaned, means forrotating the head, and

a plurality of flexible abrading members suc as chains secured to thehead atpoints spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, theseflexiblemembers beintg tensioned into frictional engagement wi the pipe,and of sucha nature that they are capa 1ev of thorou hly cleansing theexterior surface thereof when the head is rotated with respect thereto.1

Another object is to provide meansifor simultaneously relieving thetension upon all of the abrading members, so as to permit the pipecleaning machine to be advanced along the pipe and past a relativelylarge JOlllt between two pip: sections, regardless of whether the ointof the welded type or emplo an interiorly threaded sleeve.

A furt er object is to form the rotor head in such a manner, and to soen age the flexible abrading members therewith, that the pipe cleaningmachine may be mounted in operative position upon the pipe to be cleanedand removed therefrom relatively quickly and easily.

The invention possesses other objects and Fig. 3 is a transversevertical sectional rtion thereof,such as that presented by a view, theplane of section being taken upon the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1, and thedirection of view indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a compound transverse vertical sectional view, the planes ofsection being taken upon the lines 44 of Fig. 1, with the direction ofview as indicated.

-Fig. 5'is a transverse vertical sectional view of the rotor head, theplane of section being taken upon the line 5-5:of Fi 1, with thedirection of view as indicated by the arrows. 4

Fi 6 is another transverse vertical section view of the rotor head, theplane of section being" taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, .with thedirection of view as indicated by the arrows.

In terms of broad inclusion, the pipe cleaning machine of the presentinvention comprises a carriage provided with means 0 formovablysupporting itupon the pipe to be cleaned. A motor of any suitable typemounted upon the carriage is operatively connected to a rotor headencircling the pipe below the carriage, so as to efiect rotationthereof, and this rotor head is provided with a plurality of flexibleabrading members such as chains under tension between points spacedcircumferentially with respect to the head, so as to cause the abradingmembers to be pressed into frictional engagement with the exteriorsurface of the pipe, whereby scraping action between the abra membersand thedpipe is established w en the head is rotate v Specificallydescribing a preferred embodiment of my improved pipe cleaning machine,I have provided a carriage, indicated in its entirety at 11,, a motor 12of any suitable desi mounted thereu on, and a rotor head 13 a apted toencircle t e pipe 14 to be cleaned, and disposed preferably directlybelow the carriage 11.

The carriage 11 comprises a frame in the form of a pair of lonitudinally extending bars 16, each of ,whic is deflected downwards, asat 17 .ateach end, presenting brackets upon .each side of the pipe 14,and spaced slightl from each end of the rotor head 13. A orizontalbracket 18 extends from each e d of the frame and carries a roller 19which engages the upper surface of the pipe 14, as'best illustrated upon1 and 2. Each of the rollers 19 is ourn ed by means of a pin 21 within aU-shaped member 22 adjustably secured to the associated bracket 18 bymeans of a'bolt 23 or its equivapose .preferably a lurality of handles26 are these handles 26 being rigid V -with the carriage 11 and extendinsition .where they may be grasped provided, each of to a po convenientlyby operators walking alongside the pipe 14. Obviously, if the pipe 14 isabove the surface of the ground, handles 26 of different configurationwill be employed, as compared with the handles used when the pipe beingcleaned is disposed within a ditch or trench. v

Although the motor 12 illustrated is'an electric motor, obviously anyother prime mover may be emplo ed, the

quirement being that it be 0 sufficient capacity to provide the forcenecessary to effect rotation of the rotor-head 13, as will readily beunderstood.

The rotor head 13 comprises a pair of annuluses 31 and 32 rigidlyinterconnected and retained in spaced axial relationship by means of aplurality of stay bolts 33. The

. two annuluses 31, 32 are split diametrically .Vm cross sectionalconfiguration.

I rotor head 13 upon a as at 34, in a common plane, thereby present inga pair of rotor head sections 36 and 37, each of which is substantiallysemi-cirlcular The sections 36 and 37 are pivotally joined at one sidebyv an suitable hinge construction 38, and area apted to be releasablyinterconnected along the other side by means of a bolt 39 pivoted to alug 41. rigid with one of the sectlons, say the section 36, and adaptedto extend through a bifurcated lug 42 rigid with the other section 37.Hence, when a nut 43 threaded upon the bolt 39 is ti htened,the twosections 36 and 37 will be re easably but firmly clamped in annularform. This construction makes it possible to position the necessity ofhaving to s end of the ipe. Instea the head 13 ma be openedy release ofthe bolts 39 wi e enough to permit slipping the head laterally onto thep'ge, after which" the sections-36 and37 may s extending pro ipe 14without the if the head over an' mg to closed position with the headencircling the pipe 14, and the bolts then tightened.

the brackets 17 at the associated end of the head 13. Hence, the rotorhead 13 is interconnected with the carriage 11 in such a mannerthat thehead may rotate freely with respect thereto, but is. caused to advancealong the pipe 14 as the carriage 11 is advanced. An annular flange 51on one of the annuluses, say the annulus 31, is provided with apreferably V-shaped groove 52 for the reception of abelt 53 which alsoengages a pulley 54 carried by the shaft results in rotation of therotor head 13.

The rotor head 13 carries preferably a lu-- are in frictional engagementwith, and which either partially or completely encircle the pipe 14, soas to develop the scraping or abrading action necessary to thoroughlycleanse the exterior surface of the the head 13 is rotated. members 57 Iprefer to employ chainsfthe links of which are provided with outwardly'ections or. points for scraping and cleaning t e pipe 14.

56 of the motor 12, whereby energization of the motor 12' pi when Forthese. ahi'ading The means for mounting the chains 57 I upon the rotorhead 13 is in the form of a plurality of rods 58-rigid with and extendgbetween the corresponding sections 36,

'37 of the two annuluses 31 and 32. These rods 58 are disposed u onopposite sides of and closely ad acent t within which the rotor bestillustrated upon Fig. 4. Carried by each of the rods 58 is a bar 59,each rod 58 and its bar 59 being adjustably interconnected by means of abolt 60 adjacent each end thereof and threaded through the rod 58, andextending' through a clearance hole in the bar 59, there bein a nut 61or other suitable abutting shoulder rigid with the bolt 60 upon eachside of the bar 59 so as to retain vthe bar 59 in selected spacedrelationship .with respect tothe rod 58. A plurality of hooks 62 havetheir shanks 63 extendin each of the rods 58, and these shanks, whichpreferably are threaded, also extend through the associated bar 59 andeach carries a nut e diametrical plane 1 head 13 is split, as Y slidablythrough i 64 in engagement with that face of'the bar 7 59 which isremote from the hook 62. Hence, each of the hooks 62 may be individualladjusted by manipulation of its associated nut 64or all of the hooks 62,the shanks 63 of which extend through any one of the rods 58, may besimultaneously adjusted by manipulation of the associated bolts 61,whereby the bar 59 with which'those hooks 62 areconand extend almostcompletely around the tiallywith respect to the rotor head 13 thetension imposed upon the chains will cause the chains to wrap themselvesabout and come into frictional engagement withthe exterior surface ofthe pipe 14. The chains 57 may be engaged upon the hooks 62 in variousmanners. For example, each chain may be relatively short and engaged atits ends tions 36 or 37, under which circumstances each chain will makecontact with thepi e la throughout substantially of arc. r, if desired,the chains may be relatively long pipe 14,.so as to be engaged at itsends'with hooks carried by rods 58 on both sections 36 and 37, and uponthe same side of the rotor head. The stay bolts 33 are provided withspaced perforations and the chains 57 may be.

fastened to the stay bolts 33 by means of bolts 60 and nuts 61 in thesame manner as described in connection with the rods 58.

An advantage of this particular type of pipe cleanin machine is that itis consider-- ably less su ject to becoming clogged up with theextremely tenacious material wit which the exterior surfaces of pipelines are frequently provided so as to prevent deter ioration of the pie from rusting and the like. Those machines which employ rigid scrapershave been found to be'more or less unsatisfactory, because of thefactthat each scraper accumulates a ball of this coatin material mixedwith dirtpflakes of rust, an

other material frequently to such an extent that the operation of thescra er itself is seriously interfered with. The c ains 57 apparentlyare not subject to such uns'atisfam tory operation, especially whenthese chains are designed in accordance with my copendingapplication,Serial No. 525,515, filed March 26, 1931. Moreover, the entire portionof the rotor head 13 within which the chains 57 are operative is o n,thereby permitting material scraped mm the pipe 14 to fall freely fromthe head, and thus preventing an accumulation of this material, asfrequently occurs in other types of cleaning machines.-

As has been stated hereinabove, it is intended that the cleaningmachineshall be advanced along the pipe manually. As such advance takes placejoints between pipe sections wiil be encountered at intervals, and whenthis takes place all the chains 57 can be loosened simultaneously byproper mani ulation of the appropriate bolts 61, there y permitting thecleaning machine to pass the oint, after which the chains ma again betightened. It should be explaine ,however,

that simultaneous loosenin and tightening.

of all the chains can be e ected only if an end of each chain isconnected to a common rod 58. Fig. 4, however, illustrates the chainsarranged with their ends in staggered relationship, i. e., one chainends at one side .of the head 13, the next chain ends at the other sideof the head, and so on. Under such circumstances, half the chains mayhave their tension varied by manipulation of. one set of bolts 61, andthe other half of.

the chains by manipulation of another set of bolts 61, as will readilybe understood.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as hereindisclosed, are subj eat to alteration within the spirit or scope of thea pended claims.

I c aim: r

1. In a pi head comprising a pair-of annuluses adapted to encircle aipe, rods interconnecting said annuluses and spaced circumferentiallywith respect thereto, chains under tension between said rods andfrictionally enga' ing said pipe, ad'ustable means interpose betweensaid chains and said rods for varying the tension of said chains,andmeans for turning said head with respect to said pipe.

2. In a pipe cleaning machine, a rotor head comprising a pair ofannuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods interconnecting saidannuluses and spaced circumterentiall with tension of all of said chainssimultaneously,

and means for turning said head with respect tosaid pipe.

3. In a pipe cleaning machine, arotor head comprising a pair ofannuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods interconnecting saidannuluses and spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, a barextending adjacent each of said rods, adjusting means for vary ing thedistance betwin each-of said bars and its associated rod, a plurality'ofhooks having shanks connected to each of said bars and extendingslidably through the associated rod, and chains under tension betweenhooks of spaced rods and frictionally engaging said pipe. I

4. In a pipe cleaningmachine, a rotor head comprising a pair ofannuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods interconnecting saidannuluses and spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, abradingmeans engaging said pipe, said abrading means including a flexiblemember under tension between said rods, adjustable means interposedbetween said flexible member and said rods for varype cleaning machine,a rotor ing the tension of said flexible member, and

means for turning said head with respect to said pipe.

5. In a p pe cleaning machine, a rotor head comprising a pairbfannuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods' interconnecting saidann'uluses and spaced circumferentially with res ect thereto abradingmeans an? g sai pipe, sai abrading means inc u 1n 6 flexible membersunder tension between said rods, adjustable means interposed betweensaid flexible members and said rods for mying the tension of .saidflexible members, means for turning said head with respect to 10 saidpipe, and means for relieving the tension of all of said flexiblemembers simultaneously. V In testimony whereof I have signed, my

name to this specification. ERNEST H. ADAMS.

